Need help with clunky AI script

[lilsquish08]

i’m trying to make a guard npc that patrols and if he sees you (via eyesight), he’ll veer off path to chase you

the problem is that he isn’t using his eyeballs while he patrols and instead ignores me and continues his patrol

here’s my code:

local function checking()
	while task.wait(1) do
		if checkSight(Guard) then
			PatrolPath:Stop()
			ChasePath:Run(objectLastDetected)
		else
			ChasePath:Stop()
			for _, Waypoint in workspace.Waypoints:GetChildren() do
				PatrolPath:Run(Waypoint)
				PatrolPath.Reached:Wait()
			end
		end
	end
end

coroutine.wrap(checking)()

i think the issue is that it iterates through all the waypoints before restarting the loop which means it would only detect me if i was standing in front of the guard as the loop restarts. i also think in this situation you would wanna use coroutines but i’m not certain where or how i’d set it up

someone else on the forum had the same issue i’m pretty sure but gave up on it

help is appreciated

[hashyyyyeryjrjej (Shai)]

I do believe that the problem is caused because of the loop, which is yielding the entire update thread.
You could make a separate thread for the waypoint loop so that it doesn’t intervene with the rest of the function.

I’d recommend delving into the task library instead of the coroutines one, as they’re more straightforward and newer (imo).

local patrolThread = nil

local function update()
	local sawSomething = checkSight(Guard)
	if sawSomething then
		PatrolPath:Stop()
		
		if patrolThread then
			task.cancel(patrolThread)
			patrolThread = nil
		end

		ChasePath:Run(objectLastDetected)
	else
		ChasePath:Stop()

		if not patrolThread then
			patrolThread = task.spawn(function()
				for _, Waypoint in workspace.Waypoints:GetChildren() do
					PatrolPath:Run(Waypoint)
					PatrolPath.Reached:Wait()
					
					if not patrolThread then
						break
					end
				end
			end)
		end
	end

	-- whatever else you wanna check for
end

task.spawn(function()
	while task.wait(1) do
		update()
	end
end)

My code starts a new thread whenever the guard starts its patrol waypoint loop, and cancels it whenever it enters its chase state, without ever yielding the main thread, which should allow for the guard to still keep updating what it sees while also moving at the same time.

[lilsquish08]

definetly better than what i had before, although the output gets cluttered with this:

edit: fixed this by reading the api and doing:

if ChasePath.Status == SimplePath.StatusType.Active then
	ChasePath:Stop()
end

edit 2: got everything to work and i understand the idea of threads n stuff now, thanks!!

[gk983 (WifHaver)]

I ended up using a free asset for my ai, toolbox is a great tool. You can look at the code here, perhaps for inspiration or just end up using this one: https://create.roblox.com/store/asset/11491776144/The-Mimic-Ai-v5

[lilsquish08]

yeah no the code in there is unbearable to read imo

pathfinding is a completely different ballgame and is something i want to familiarize myself with through trial and error

[gk983 (WifHaver)]

yeah, I also intended to do the same at first but the code was unreadable but it still did what I needed it to do so I ended up keeping it. could be a good idea asking chatgpt to make it more readable tho in case you need inspiration